On Friday, March 28, the world of “Stranger Things” became a Broadway reality when “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” opened at the Marquis Theater in New York City before its official start date of April 22nd. This thrilling prequel to the hit Netflix series that has 12 Emmy Awards has been running since its opening in London’s Phoenix Theatre in December 2023. For those who have not seen it live yet, Netflix is giving viewers a preview of what is coming up.
The next big thing that you should look out for on Netflix is a documentary titled “Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow” which will be out on April 15th. This special is directed by Jon Halperin, and it offers viewers a behind the scenes look at the cast and creative team as they make this exciting stage production from the ground up. In a trailer that was dropped on March 28th, one of the creative team members said, “The expectations are very high. It’s ‘Stranger Things,’ so we’ve got to come up with something special for the table.” Another adds, “It’s intimidating. The pressure’s on, and we have to get it right.”
The fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in 1959 is where “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” takes place, a time that is way before Mike Wheeler, Eleven, and the rest of the beloved ‘80s gang from the TV show. The story focuses on the teenage versions of Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado and Bob Newby – people who are familiar to audiences through David Harbour, Winona Ryder, and Sean Astin – as they try to uncover the mysterious past of Henry Creel, also known as Vecna.
The play is the brainchild of the Duffer Brothers, the creators of “Stranger Things” together with Jack Thorne, the writer of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and Kate Trefry, a writer and co-executive producer for the series. Trefry’s script is directed by three-time Tony Award winner Stephen Daldry and co-directed by Justin Martin. Daldry said, “The aim is to create a heart stopping experience that will have you on the edge of your seat and make you feel amazed, scared and happy.” “It’s about taking the quick pace of TV and mixing it with the spectacle of theatre. There are some moments that will make you go, “How did they do that?””
The production is a co-production between Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions, with 21 Laps Entertainment as an associate producer. The creative team includes Miriam Buether (set design), Brigitte Reiffenstuel (costumes), Jon Clark (lighting), Paul Arditti (sound), and D.J. Walde (original music composition, orchestration, and arrangements). Burke Swanson plays Jim, Alison Jaye plays Joyce, and Juan Carlos plays Bob in the 34-member cast. The ensemble also comprises Rosie Benton (Virginia Creel), Alex Breaux (Dr. Brenner), Andrew Hovelson (Principal Newby), Emmy nominee T.R. Knight (Victor Creel), Gabrielle Nevaeh (Patty Newby), and Louis McCartney (Henry Creel). Notably, Breaux will appear in “Stranger Things” season 5, while McCartney returns to his West End role.
With its nostalgia, suspense and theatricality, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is set to thrill Broadway audiences just like its predecessor did for audiences around the world.